Apologies

I knew that I hadn't posted on my blog for months but was shocked to note that this is my first post of 2011 and we are 3/4 of the way through the year!  The sentiment on this card is therefore rather appropriate.  I have to confess I didn't particularly enjoy making it and I can see the result is pretty poor (think I am off pink!) but I am pleased I actually achieved it even though it took ages....ages to find the craft stuff I needed, ages to stamp, emboss, cut, put together etc. etc.  It's a belated birthday card for a relative and is about to be popped into the post. 

I have decided to enter this card into Rainbow Lady's latest challenge where the theme is embossing and also the Walztingmouse Stamps Sketch Challenge No. 62.  The sentiment is from their Say it with Style set and the frame from Holiday Labels 14.  I used Versafine Grey and Versamark inks, gold embossing powder, ribbon flowers, rose bow, organza ribbon, rhinestone stick on gems and two strips of Anna Griffin paper.  I thought I had a Nestabilities die to match the shape of the label but if I have I can't find it so cut round it scissors.

I am not sure if I will ever get back into crafting in a big way as I have lost interest for various reasons and this has not been a great year for me personally.....we will see!

Black & White Blooms with a hint of Pink

I am entering this card into two challenges - The Play Date Cafe #46 (black & white with a splash of pink, copper or gold) and Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge #14.    

I tried very hard to get a decent photograph of this card but failed miserably, they all looked off white or pixelated so this rather blurry scan will have to do.  I have used a variety of Waltzing Mouse stamps here, the large and small blooms are from the Chrysanthemum set, the sentiment is from Blessed by You and the narrow strip separating the two backing papers I made uses the border stamp from the Say it with Style set. The scallop egde was made with a Martha Stewart punch and I threaded a length of  cerise pink organza ribbon through as one of my splashes of pink.  The black, white and pink flower die cut was made by my friend Beverley who runs the Chop o Holics card club.  I enjoyed making this card and am quite pleased with the result as I think a touch of another colour adds something to the monotone look.

Willow Tree

This is the first of two cards I have made for the Waltzingmouse sketch challenge #14.  I have used the lovely willow tree stamp from their Blessed by You set as the focal point.  It was stamped in black Versafine ink onto a background I made by brayering lettuce and denim Adirondack dye inks onto a piece of plain cardstock.  The flower and sentiments stamps are from the WM Asian Gardens set and the paper is by Hot off the Press.

Anniversary Card

Here is my card for the Waltzing Mouse Sketch challenge #12. I really enjoyed playing with stamps and getting full of ink and embossing powder, though I do wish I had cleaned the purple ink off one of the stamps before using my Versamark pad and I could have done without getting my finger stuck in red hot melted embossing powder.

I thought I would combine a few challenges, a first for me, so I am also entering this into the following challenges: Die Cut Dreams #63 Soft Shades of Vintage, Crafts & Me Petals & Pearls, C.R.A.F.T #63 Anything Goes,  C.E.S #1 Anything Goes and Paper Cutz #56 ( metal embellishment), so 6 in total.

The stamps used are all by Waltzingmouse Stamps. I used the largest stamp from the Chrystanthemum set to make the crackle effect on the 2 nestie labels behind the sentiment by inking the card with various shades of green and purple inks then triple embossing with pearl and purple powders.  I used stamps from the Say it with Style set for the plum card background and the flower embellishments. I am pleased with how the main layered flower turned out but the photo doesn't capture the irridescent shimmer effect obtained by using the pearl embossing powder. I fastened the layers together with a fancy metal brad  but can't remember the make, which is a pity as I wouldn't mind some more of those.  The sentiment is from the same set, stamped onto shimmery brown card and embossed in gold.  

 I stamped the swirly border, again from the Say it with Style set, in green onto a length of cream satin ribbon before tying it into a bow and adding the pearls. I don't think Adirondack dye ink was a good choice however as the pattern more or less disappeared overnight but it has given the ribbon a nice green tint to match the embossed green card on the right so not a major disaster,  The co-ordinating paper strip was cut from an Anna Griffin sheet and edged with an ivory promarker to give a more vintage look. I also used a lavender promarker to shade the stamped purple floral background.